Dental floss-holder.



No. 695,092. Patented Mar. Il, |902.

.L W. COWAN.

DENTAL FLDSS HOLDER.

(Application ld Supt. 4 1901.)

(llo Model.)

mb 'l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES VATSON COlfVAN, OF GENESEO, NEWA YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE HANDY COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NElV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEXV YORK.

DENTAL FLOSS-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,092, dated March 11, 1902.

Application lled September 4,1901. Serial No. 74,257. iNO modelli To all whom it muy couccrt:

Be it known that I, JAMES WATSON Gowns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Geneseo, county of Livingston, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dental Appliances, fully described and represented in the following speciiication and the accom panyi ng drawiugs,form ing a part of the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in dental appliances, 'and has for its object to produce a cheap, eiiicient, and con veulent appliance of the class in which dosssilk is employed, said silk being held in such manner that it may be introduced into the interdental spaces for the purpose of cleaning the same.

XVith this and 'other objects in view the invention consists in certain improvements and in certain constructions and combinations as hereinafter described and then more fully pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Referring to the drawings which constitute a part of this specification, and in which like characters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l is a sectional side elevation of one form of the improved appliance, the parts being shown in the position they assume when the appliance is in closed position. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a Side elevation, partly in section, with the parts in the position they assume when the appliance is in condition for use, the closing or stopping means being, however, removed. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevations of one form of closing means. Fig (i is an elevation,partly in section, of the appliance fitted to a toothbrush, the handle of the brush operating as the closing means. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views. p

Referring to the drawings,1 indicates a case. This case is tubular in form and, as shown, is oval in cross-section, although it may be of any suitable shape. `The floss is contained in a holder 2, which is constructed so that either of its ends will fit into the casing. Vr'hiie this holder may be of any suitable construction and configuration, it will preferably he provided with a recess or chamber, as indicated at 3, in which a cop or bobbin of floss may be placed. As shown, the cop of floss consists of a cylindrical ball contained in a casing 5, which tits the recess in the holder; but it is obvious that the floss may be wound or arranged in any suitable manner-that is to say, it may be a spool or a simple ball of floss. The holder, as shown, is provided with an enlargement which limitsI the distance to which it may be forced into the case. This shoulder may be formed in any suitable manner, as by thickening the material of the holder or by forming a bead thereon, or, if desired, the enlargement may be omitted altogether. The holder is further provided with floss-retaining means, which may be of any suitable description. As shown, these means consist of a hook 7, which is secured to or formed on the edge or lip of the holder. A support is also provided for maintaining stretched lengths of floss in position for use. W'hile this support may he widely varied in construction, as shown, it consists of a ilexible-frame S, which is or may be formed from a piece of wire, this frame being preferably rigidly connected to the support, as shown. This frame is provided with suitableholdiug devices .for the lengths of floss. lVhile these holding devices may be varied in construction, they preferably consist of jaws i) and 10, the jaw il being hereinafter referred to as the inner jaw, because itlies between the body of the frame S and the stretched lengths of floss, and the jaw i0 being hereinafter referred to as the outer jaw. In the preferred construction these jaws will be arranged to nip or pinch the floss between them, so that the lioss after being given one or two turns between the jaws will be securely gripped and held by them.

In Patent No. 664,126, granted to me December 1S, 1900, and No. 677,9l7, granted to me July 9, 1001., a wire-supporting frame is disclosed which is generally similar to that which is herein shownthat is to say, it con1- prises a flexible wire frame provided with a pair of gripping-jaws. In the frame shown in the said patents, however, the jaws are arranged so that they lie across the line of tension of the floss, and with this construction it has been found in practical experience that it is necessary in order to remove the iloss from between the jaws to unwind the IDO same by a series of' movements which correspond to those by which the floss is wound between them. In the present construction it will be observed that the outer jaw 10 lies outside the line of tension exerted upon the floss when the same is wound in position between the retaining-hook 7 and the jaws. This outer jaw 10 may be arranged, as shown in Fig. S, so that it lies substantially parallel to the line of tension before referred to; but it will preferably be arranged, as shown in Fig. 7, so that it is atan angle to this line of tension. With this construction it has been f'onnd that the floss can be removed from between the jaws by a straight pull ou the loose end of the floss. Referring to Figs. 7 and S, for instance, in which the length of floss is marked 11 and the loose end 12, it will be seen that as the floss is wound between the jaws the loops or turns of the floss are forced up onto the jaw 10, whereas in the old construction referred to the loops or turns were wound upon the jaw which corresponds te the inner jaw. therefore, by seizing the loose end l2 and giving it a sharp pull the floss will unwind from the jaw 10, whereas in the old construction a sharp pull upon the loose end of the floss would simply serve to tighten the turns upon the inner Jaw.

In the preferred form of the construction the case l will be open at both ends, and suitable means are provided for removably closing the end opposite to that in which the flossholder fits. Two forms of' closing means are shown. One of these forms comprises a plug or stopper 13, having a recess 14, and the other is a tooth-brush handle 15, having a recess lfj. Then the appliance is intended to be carried in the pocket, the stopper 13 will be employed. The appliance may, however, be mounted upon a tooth-brush, as indicated in Fig. f1', the handle of the brush forming the closing means. Then the appliance is not in use, the holder is placed in the casing, so that the floss-support and the length of floss are protected by the casing, the end of the support; entering the recess or cleft in the closing means, as shown in Figs. 1 and G. When, however, the appliance is to be pnt into condition for use, the holder is removed from the case and the other end inserted therein, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position the case serves as a handle for the appliance. In order to firmly hold the floss in position, it will preferably be given two or three wraps around the top of the case or around the snpport and the hook 7 and then passed from the hook 7 between the gripping-jaws 9 and 10, being given two or three turns between the jaws, which nip the floss and hold it firmly.

While the construction which has been described is the preferred one, it is to be understood that variations and changes may be made therein. The invention is not, therefore, to be confined to the specific construction hereinbefore described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination with a case, of aholder for floss, and a support f'or maintaining in position a stretched length of floss, the holder being constructed so that either of its ends may fit i nto the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the case serves as a handle and when in the other position the case serves to protect the support.

2. The combination with a case, of a holder for floss, said holder being recessed or chambered, whereby it is adapted to receive a cop or bobbin of floss, and a support for maintaining in position a stretched length. of floss, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends may fit into the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the case serves as a handle and when in the other position the case serves to protect the support.

The combination with a case, of a holder tor floss and a support comprising a flexible In the present construction, tframe adapted to maintain in position a `stretched length of floss, said holder being structed so that either of its ends may fit into he case, whereby when the holder is in wupport.

et. The com 'nation with a case, ol' a chambered or recessed holder for floss, and a support comprising a flexible frame for maintaining a stretched length of floss in position, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends may fit into the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the case serves as a handle and when in the other position the case serves to protect the support.

5. The combination with a holder for floss, said holder having a cup-shaped recess or chamber which is constructed to receive and inclose a cop or bobbin of floss said recess being open at one end, of a flexible frame extending therefrom and provided with holding means, said frame being constructed to maintain stretched lengths of floss in position.

(3. The combination with a holder for floss, said holder having a cup-shaped recess constructed to receive and inclose a cop or bobbin of floss said recess being open at one end, and having a retaining device thereon of a flexible frame having gripping-jaws extending from the holder, said frame being constructed to maintain in position stretched lengths of floss.

7. The combination with a case open at both ends of a holder for floss and a support comprising a flexible frame for maintaining stretched lengths of floss in position, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends will fit into one of' the ends of the case, and cleft or recessed removable closing means at the other end of the case.

S. A dental appliance comprising a brush havingacleft or recessed handle, a case fitting over the end of said handle, a floss-holder,

IIO

and a support for maintaining in position a stretched length of floss, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends will fit into the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the brush and ease serve as a handle and in the other position the holder and support may be placed in the case with the support in position in the clcft or recess of the handle.

9. A dental appliance comprising a brush having a cleft or recessed handle, a case f1tting said handle, a Hoes-holder, and a support comprising a flexible frame extending from said holder, the holder being constructed so that either of its ends will fit in the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the brush and case serve as a handle and in the other position the holder and support may be placed in the case with the support in position in the recess of the handle.

10. In a dental appliance the combination with a floss-holder having retaining means, of a support having gripping-jaws, whereby a stretched length of oss may be maintained in position between the retaining means of the holder and the jaws of the support, the outer jaw being arranged outside the line of tension of the floss.

l1. In a dental appliance the combination with a floss-holder having retaining means, of a support having gripping-jaws, whereby a stretched length of floss may be maintained in position between the retaining means of the holder and the jaws of the support, the outer jaw being arranged outside and at an angle to the line of tension.

12. Adentalappliance,comprisingaholder for floss having retaining means, a flexible frame having gripping-jaws arranged to nip the floss, whereby a length of floss may be maintained in a stretched position between the retaining means and the jaws, the outer jaw being arranged outside the line of tension of the floss.

I3. A dental appliance, comprisinga holder for floss having retaining means, a flexible frame having grippingjaws arranged to nip the floss, whereby a length of floss may be maintained in a stretched position between the retaining means and the jaws, the outer jaw being arranged outside and at an angle to the line of tension of the floss.

14. A dental appliance comprising a brush having a cleft or recessed handle, a casing fitting said handle, a recessed or chambered holder having retaining means,a support comprising a iiexible frame extending from said holder, said frame being provided with gripping-jaws, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends will fit in the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the brush and case serve as a handle and in the other position the holder and support may be placed in the case with the support in position in the recess of the handle.

l5. A dental appliance comprisinga brush having a cleft or recessed handle, a easing fitting said handle, a recessed or chambered holder having retainingmeans,asupportcomprising a flexible frame extending from said holder, said frame being provided with gripping-jaws, the outer one ot' said jaws being arranged outside the line of tension of the floss, said holder being constructed so that either of its ends will fit in the case, whereby when the holder is in one position the brush and case serve as a handle and in the other position the holder and support maybe placed in the case with the support in position in the recess of the handle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WATSON COVVAN.

W itnesses:

W. A. COWAN, W. H. GRAY. 

